It is often said that players like to do their talking on the pitch but Maltese footballers now have a voice. 'Voice to the players' read the slogan on the backdrop as a group of footballers joined high-ranking officials of the General Workers Union (GWU) in launching their new alliance at the Corinthia Palace Hotel yesterday.

The long-felt need to set up a representative body spurred a number of players to engage in discussions with the GWU with the aim of creating a footballers unit. So far, over 80 have declared their intention to become members as a result of this concerted drive. "This news conference is special due to the fact that you are writing history as this is the first association between sports and trade unionism," Tony Zarb, general secretary of the GWU, told reporters. "A group of sports people have identified the need to organise themselves within a union and the GWU is delighted to have them on board. I would like to thank the players for their faith in the GWU. "This initiative should act as an example for other sports people to join us.

"We have space for everyone and we give a voice to everyone, hence the slogan 'Voice to the players'."Zarb said the footballers will benefit from the union's local expertise as well as its international contacts, adding that its officials have already got in touch with other foreign unions who have a football section. Michael Parnis, the GWU deputy general secretary, said the players will be part of the union's professional and services section.

"A plaque at the entrance of the GWU building contains the message 'On solid foundations we build the future' and the players in Malta certainly deserve a strong and better future," Parnis said. "Over the coming weeks, we shall continue discussing with the players' working committee in order to create an association. "The footballers who join the GWU will enjoy the same rights as all the other members." Parnis also announced that the GWU has already applied to become a member of FIFPro, the worldwide representative organisation for professional football players, and has also made preliminary contacts with the players' associations in Italy and England.

MFA's response A letter has also been sent to Norman Darmanin Demajo, the president of the Malta FA, who, according to Parnis, was pleased about the initiative. "Mr Darmanin Demajo made it clear that the MFA is not the players' employer but he nonetheless accepted to meet us," Parnis said. The GWU deputy general secretary stressed that the players' decision to team up with a union is not intended to fuel some kind of rivalry or be seen as being influenced by partisan politics. "We want to foster unity among the players in order to improve their conditions," Parnis said. Anthony Galea, the former Pieta Hotspurs and Malta U-21 midfielder who is one of the catalysts of this initiative, thanked the GWU for their valuable assistance. "We want to show our gratitude to the GWU for endorsing our proposal to form a players' association with great enthusiasm," Dr Galea said.

"This move is certainly not designed to cause conflicts. Our aim is to create a dialogue to improve the conditions of players and that of Maltese football in general. "Sports programmes on local TV stations have been harping on the need to take Maltese football forward and that is also one of our main objectives. "With the contribution of the players, the local game can improve." Although the campaign to encourage players to join a union may seem like a novelty for Maltese football, Dr Galea said the idea was conceived several years ago. "The idea was first discussed some 15 years ago," Dr Galea said. "For various reasons, the players didn't manage to do something concrete about it. In 2004-2005, after Malta's accession to the EU, a group of players wrote to the MFA informing them that certain rules and conditions such as the transfer parameters and salary caps, had to be amended.

"The letter, which was signed by 200 players, was discussed by the Malta FA Executive Committee but after that nothing happened. "The players didn't have a voice before and that is what fuelled our desire to advance the idea of organising ourselves in a professional way. The feedback has been very encouraging. We invite players in all categories, including foreigners, to become part of this unit." The lack of agreement between the national squad members and the Malta FA over the latter's decision to abolish training allowances will have strengthened the players' resolve to link up with a union. However, the players have not requested the GWU's assistance on this matter thus far.

"The training allowances issue is a closed chapter until the Greece qualifier," Marsaxlokk and Malta left-back Carlo Mamo said. "We have decided to take this stance as we want to fully focus on the match. Discussions will resume later. "The union has offered to help us in future talks but it's important that everyone understands that this unit is not open to the national team players only. All players can become members. "Obviously, because of the training allowances' issue, the players have realised the importance of having a union and a voice."